If an on-premises solution allows end-users full responsibility and control over their computing resources, IaaS is one step removed. In an IaaS solution, the cloud vendor provides the essential infrastructure technology, including hardware and components, and takes responsibility for housing, operating, maintaining and updating all associated equipment. The customer can then use this infrastructure to deploy the remainder of their application stack.
With IaaS, end-users provide the applications, middleware, runtime, virtual networks and operating system, while the cloud vendor takes care of the physical network, servers and storage. IaaS providers may also offer accompanying services, including load balancing, security, monitoring and more.